Control head



Apr. N), 1923. 1,45@,968

D. BREEDING CONTROL HEAD Original Filsd May 26 1920 2 sheens-sheeh J W/T/VESSES P WI/E/VTOR B62307? fire 602 2212 ATTORNEYS Apr. 110, i923.

D. BREEDING CONTROL HEAD Original Filed May 26, 1920 2 sheets-sheet 2 A TTOR/I/EVS f F l G E DELSON BREEDING, OF TULSA, OKLOMA.

con'rnor. HEAD.

Application filed May 26, 1920, Serial No. 384,441.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DELSON BREEDING, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Control Heads, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to well drilling apparatus, and particularly to control heads of the type embodied in my copending application filed February 16, 1920, Serial No. 358,812, wherein valves are provided which prevent an escapement of oil from the control head while the usual oil sealing device is being applied or removed when the drill cable is in the control head.

A purpose of my present invention is the provision of a control head in which the valves are supported for movement in arcs of the same circle so that in closed position their confronting edges meet and thus provide a more efficient seal for preventing the passage of oil between the valves and drill cable.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a control head having valves which are so shaped as to utilize the pressure of the oil within the control head in securing the valves in closed position, one of the valves being of greater dimensions than the other to permit a complete closing of one port independently of the other valve when the drill cable is withdrawn from the head.

I will describe one form of control head embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing in top plan, one form of control head' embodying my in vention.

.Figure 2 is a. vertical longitudinal sec tional view of the control head shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the control head shown in Figure 1, with the Valves in closed position, and a conventional form of sealing device applied to the head.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the valves shown in Figures 2 and Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring specifically to the drawings C designates generally a casing which is of substantially the same construction as the casing shown and described in my co-pending Renewed September 18, 1922. Serial No. 588,080.

application above referred to. The casing C in the present instance is formed with an upper aperture 15, a lower aperture 16, and at its ends with a pair of apertures 17 and 18. Communicating with the lower side of the casing C, through the aperture 16, is a pipe P which is adapted to extend into the well and receive the control cable K, as clearly shown in Figure 3. A pipe P communicates with one end of the casing through the aperture 17, and this pipe is adapted to be connected to the pipe line for conveying the oil from the well which passes upwardly through the pipe P, and through the casing G into the pipe P. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the Walls of the aperture 15 are shaped to provide a shoulder 15 upon which is supported an oil sealing device designated generally at 0. As shown in Figure 3, the sealing device 0 is of standard construction, and embraces the cable K in a mannor to prevent the passage of oil through the aperture 15 while at the same time allowing of the free longitudinal movement of the cable. The sealing device 0 is adapted to be secured within the aperture 15 by means of set; screws 19, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, V and V designate valves, each of which comprises a stem 20 or 20 upon one end of which is formed a head 21 or 21. As illustrated to advantage in Figure 2, the heads 21-and 21 are of arcuate formation and are formed integrally with and extend laterally from discs 22 and 22 formed on the inner ends of the stems 20 and 20, respectively. T he confronting edges of the heads 21 and 21- are formed at corresponding points with semi-circular recesses 23 and 23 respeo tively, so that when the Valves are in closed position as shown in Figure 3, the two rocesses are in registry. As shown in Figure 3, the confronting edge of one head 21 or 21 is beveled or tapered transversely in a direction opposite to that of the confronting edge of the other head, so that with the edges contacting with each other, a diagonal joint is formed between the two valve heads for a purpose which will be hereinafter described. As also shown in Figure 3, the inner surfaces of the heads 21 and 21 are provided with flattened portions 24 and 24", respectively, at points adjacent their meeting edges, such flattened portions assuming a substantially horizontal position when the lli) valves are in closed position so as to provide surfaces against which oil is adapted to impinge for maintaining the valves in closed position, as will be more clearly described hereinafter. As shown in Figure 4-, the heat 21 of the valve V is provided at its free end with a ring which is adapted to contact with the innerwall of the control head at. a point adjacent the aperture 17 the opening in the ring allowing of the tree passage of oil through the aperture and into the pipe P at all times, irrespective of the position of the valve.

The heads of the valves V and V are mounted for movement in the path of arcs of the same circle by means of the stems 20 and 20", the stem 20 being of tubular forma- 'tion as shown in Figure 2, and rotatably receiving the stem 20. The stem 20 is rotatably supported in a plate L secured to the casing in the manner shown, such plate closing the aperture 18. \Vith the stems 20 and 20* mounted in the manner just described, it will be seen that the discs 22 and 22* are arranged one in advance of the other, the disc 22 bemg disposed adjacent the inner wall of the plate L and contacting at its periphery with the inner wall of the casing C.

As shown in Figure 3, a pipe P communicates with the control head casing at a point between the sealing device 0 and the valves V and V. This pipe P serves as a drain for the small amount of oil and gas which leaks past the valves V and V. he passage of oil or gas through the pipe P is controlled by a valve V so that when such valve ,is opened, the oil and gas from above the valves V and V are free to pass out of the casing through such pipe. It will be understood that the valve 2 is to be opened from time to time to effect a removal of the oil and gas, this preventing the latter from creating a pressure below the sealing device to cause it to be projected upwardly during removal.

In the operation of the valves V and V, the are moved in opposite directions from thelr closed positions as shown in Figure 3 to allow of the passage of the drilling tools and cables throuh the control head and downwardly within the pipe 1. After the drilling tools have been properly osit-ioned within the well so that the cable is centered within the control head, the sealing device 0 is then applied to the aperture 15. The drilling operation may now proceed in the usual manner, so that when oil rushes into the control head, the sealing device 0 prevents the escapement of oil through the aperture 15, thereby directing, the same through the aperture 17 and into the pipe P. After the drilling operation has been completed and it is desired to withdraw the tool fromthe well, the valves V and V are moved to closed position as shown in Figure 3,

wherein it will be seen that the recesses 23 and 23 allow of the closing of the valves while the cable is centered within the control head so that the sealing device can be removed from the head without allowing the oil to escape. After the sealing device 0 has been removed, the cable is elevated until the drilling tools are within the control head, whereupon, the valves V and V are again moved to their open position to permit the withdrawal of the tools from the control head. As soon as the tools have been removed, the valve V is moved to such a position that it completely closes the aperture 15. If it is desired at any time to again insert the drilling tools and cable within the well, it is obvious that the sealing device 0 can be readily applied to the control 'head without permitting the escapemcnt of an appreciable amount of oil, by )roper manipulation of the valves V and It is to be particularly noted that when the valves V and V are in closed position as shown in Figure 3, upward pressure of the oil and the gas within the control head acts on the surfaces 24 and 24 to maintain the valves in closed position, thus preventing the accidental opening of the same during the application or removal of the sealing device to the control head. It is to be further noted that the diagonal joint between the confronting edges of the valve heads reduces the amount of oil that escapes through the recesses 23 and 23 so that the frequent manipulation of the valve V to efiect the drainage of this oil from the control head is rendered unnecessary.

Although I have herein shown and described one form of control head embodying my 1nvention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A control head comprising a casing having apertures formed therein adapted to permit the passage of a drilling cable and tools therethrough, a valve within the casing movable to prevent the passage. of fluid through one of said apertures, and a second valve movable within the casing and adapted to coact with the first valve to also prevent the passage of fluid through said aperture, said valves being movable in arcs of the same circle and having their confronting edges formed with recesses adapted to re ceive the drilling cable when the valves are moved to restrain the flow of fluid through said aperture.

2. A control head comprising a casing having apertures formed therein adapted to permit the passage of a drilling cable and tools therethrough. and a pair of valves within said casing movable in arcs of the same circle, said valves having their confronting edges formed with recesses and their inner surfaces with flattened portions adapted to utilize the pressure of oil and gas within the casing in maintaining the valves in closed position.

3. A control head comprising a casing having apertures therein adapted to permit the passage of a drilling cable and tools therethrough, and a pair of valves within said casing and movable in arcs of the same circle, the confronting edges of said valves being beveled in opposite directions and formed with recesses, and the inner surfaces of said valves being formed with flattened portions adjacent their confronting edges for the purpose described.

4. A control head comprising, a casing having apertures formed therein adapted to permit the passage of a drilling cable and tools therethrough, a valve within the -as ing movable to prevent the passage of fluid on one end of the head, a stem secured to the disc, and a ring formed on the opposite end of the head, and a second valve movable within the casing and adapted to coact with the first valve to also prevent the passage of fluid through said aperture, the second valve comprising an arcuate head, a disc formed on one end of the head, and a tubular stem fixed to said disc and rotatably mounted in said casing, said tubular stem rotatably receiving the stern of the first valve.

5. A control head comprising, a casing having apertures formed therein adapted to permit the passage of a drilling cable and tools therethrough, a valve within the casing movable to prevent the passage of fluid through one of said apertures, a second valve movable within the casing and adapted to coact with the first valve to also prevent the passage of fluid through said aperture, and a ring formed on the first valve adapted to contact with one of the walls of said casing and to encircle one of the apertures.

DELSON BREEDING. 

